Shop at Amazon to Support Dysautonomia Research!

Whether you're a big holiday shopper or simply make purchases from Amazon once in a blue moon, please shop through this link to support dysautonomia research. Simply use the Amazon search box on the right of the page to find the item you're looking for before making your purchase.

You can purchase ANYTHING from Amazon and 4-6% of your total purchase will automatically be donated to dysautonomia research without costing you a dime extra. There are no gimmicks here. All you have to do is remember to click through the box on the Dysautonomia International webpage before putting items in your cart.

I am on the Patient Advisory Board at Dysautonomia International, an organization I am proud to be a part of. Dysautonomia International has made funding research their primary objective in hopes of ultimately supporting the discovery of a cure or new and improved treatment options for patients. More research leads to more awareness in the medical community and at large. More research and better physician awareness will also help render dysautonomia more of a household name like lupus or multiple sclerosis instead of an illness that sounds obscure and and foreign to people. Education is key and it often starts with educating doctors and providers in the medical profession so that they can begin to recognize and diagnose dysautonomia, thus leading to more prompt patient treatment and better, more thorough and comprehensive care overall.

Cucumbers are Cool...And Curative!

While I very seldom read email forwards, the ones from my grandma tend to be useful and from reputable sources. This one, detailing the health benefits and myriad household uses of cucumbers, caught my attention. I already knew cucumbers were healthy. An alkaline food, they help balance pH and are one of the only foods that never cause me acid reflux. They really seem to help settle my stomach and are refreshing. I also love me a cucumber peel facial. Here is the email forward verbatim:

Never thought that CUCUMBER can do so much!

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems.

Lemon Juice, Coconut Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Oh My!!!

I was so excited to discover the above chart on MindBodyGreen.com. I am all about utilizing natural, chemical-free remedies whenever possible. I intend to try all these products for the various uses listed as I am chronically chemically sensitive and striving to eliminate the toxins from my life.

Cleaning Tips for the Chemically Sensitive

This post has been a long time coming. While my chemical sensitivities are not as severe as they used to be, I still consider myself a highly sensitive individual when it comes to smells. Luckily I am not usually sensitive to soaps and detergents, but everything else around the house is fair game, particularly when it comes to cleaning products. I don't have any products like Windex, PineSol, 409 or anything of the sort around the house. Instead, I rely on products that don't trigger my chemical sensitivities. A few of my favorites are Bon Ami, the entire Seventh Generation line, (especially their dishwashing detergent!) baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and occasionally rubbing alcohol. If I ever have to be around chemicals I use them outdoors only. I even polish my nails outside on the deck because the smell of the polish and the remover bothers me indoors.

I keep a pretty tidy house thanks to having mild ocd tendencies. So I never let things get dirty enough to warrant the use of chemical cleaners. For dusting I simply damp dust everything. I wash the countertops with water and a dab of dawn dishwashing liquid. If I need to disinfect surfaces I will use either hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. A 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle does double duty as a powerful unscented glass and window cleaner and a disinfectant. It's one of my favorite products. Some people also swear by a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water for window cleaning but I haven't tried that one yet. I use Purex Free and Clear detergent in the washing machine and I don't use any fabric softener or dryer sheets as they're simply not necessary. I use organic wool balls in the dryer as an alternative. Glade Plug-Ins, Febreze or any sort of air freshener sprays are also not necessary. If you must scent your air to create extra ambiance, use things like soy-based scented candles made with essential oils, or try putting a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a diffuser. There are myriad chemical-free and natural product lines on the market these days, in big stores, online and made by small businesses and individuals. I love Dreamland Naturals on Etsy for affordable all natural soaps and bar shampoos.

Not only is chemical-free cleaning way healthier for you and your family, it's also much easier on your environment. By going chemical free you're reducing your carbon footprint and going greener. It's a win/win.

Extreme Couponing with A Chronic Illness

I have often watched TLC's new series 'Extreme Couponing' in bewilderment, not because they get hundreds of dollars of merchandise for mere pennies, but because they often have to stand for a half hour and wait while the checker rings them up. Immediately the concept of extreme couponing appealed to me because I've always been a great shopper. Meaning I'm a careful shopper and always manage to get the best value and most bang for my buck. I consider myself a responsible shopaholic. Although I don't shop nearly as much as I used to back in the good old days (pre-POTS days, that is) whenever I shop now I make it a firm policy to never pay full retail price for anything. I strive to buy every item on sale and now with a coupon if possible.

Several of my friends have dabbled with couponing and I have always wanted to try a more aggressive approach to saving money. So far I have made two extreme couponing trips to my local drugstores and have spent a total of $61.45 including sales tax. I have also received $18 back in Rite Aid UP Rewards and Walgreen's Register Rewards (cash equivalent gift certificates that can be spent on any merchandise but only in their store).

Although I did not get everything free as the extreme couponers on TV do, I ended up with over $250 (retail value+sales tax) worth of merchandise for my $61.45 including all sales tax.

Here's what I got, along with the full retail value of the items:

-4 razors ($45)

-20 razor cartridges ($60)

-2 shaving gels ($8)

-3 bottles of shampoo ($20)

-1 bottle of organic conditioner ($7)

-1 body wash ($6)

-1 antibacterial hand soap ($4)

-2 bar soaps ($5)

-2 deodorants ($8)

-1 lotion ($6)

-3 tubes of toothpaste ($10)

-1 toothbrush ($4)

-1 chapstick ($4)

-2 mascaras ($25)

-4 packages of disposable heating pads ($20)

-2 candy bars ($1.50)

Most of these items were things I would have ordinarily purchased at some point in the near future. By using coupons and watching sales, I was able to stock up on essentials like razors that have no expiration date and save quite a bit of money by starting a toiletry "stockpile" so I won't have to go out and buy an item at full price when I run out. I can simply shop in my own stockpile where I paid much less than full price for each item. Couponing and careful shopping can be a great way to save money with a chronic illness. Be careful not to buy things you don't need or would never use. Make sure that you at least know someone who will use the item because you almost always end up paying sales tax for it even if it is "free." If your stockpile builds up to excess, you can always donate extra toiletry items to a local shelter or food items to a food bank to ensure that nothing ever goes to waste.

My advice for anyone with physical limitations or chronic illness is to not let it discourage you from trying extreme couponing. Most of the preparation and careful planning for shopping trips can be done in the comfort of your own home, clipping coupons from the Sunday paper and printing coupons online. Make sure you have a good game plan in place before even entering the store. Lay your coupons out and determine where sales are advertised for your coupon items. I like to tape a coupon to the corresponding page of the store ad so if there happens to be a discrepancy or mistake made at the cash register I can easily and efficiently show the sale price to the checker. It also helps to look over your receipt once you get back to the car but before you leave the store parking lot just in case a mistake has been made so you can go back in and have it corrected immediately.

To my fellow potsies, make sure you are well hydrated, have a full stomach and wear compression stockings if you can. If you may need something like a walker or a wheelchair, be sure to bring it with you or use a motorized cart as you may be expected to stand at the cash register for several minutes while the checker enters your coupons. I personally like to wear sunglasses if I'm in a store for very long as the fluorescent lights tend to bother my eyes. I also bring a water bottle and a protein-rich snack in my purse (just in case) and prefer to take someone with me who can help double-check my math and be on the lookout for unexpected deals in the store. Your experience should be comfortable, fun, and rewarding! Make an afternoon, or better yet an evening of it, as stores tend to be much less busy and have shorter lines after 7 pm. Investing a little money up front and getting an abundance of merchandise in return should enable you to start a small stockpile of your own and contribute to the thrill of extreme couponing.